Multiple hinge structure



y 21, 1946. w. A. SHEARER 'zAoo eos MULTIPLE HINGE STRUCTURE Y FiledSept. 25/ 1943- will" Illl Will ll Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,400,608 MULTIPLE HINGE STRUCTURE William A. Shearer, NewCastle, Ind.

Application September 25, 1943, Serial No. 503,752

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple leaf, multiple hinge, single pivotstructure capable of use in chairs, foldable closures, railings, and.other articles of a collapsible and extensible type.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a structure of theaforesaid character and wherein the hinges are of interlockingcharacter, that is one leaf passes through the other and the leaves whencollapsed or extended have self included stops for limiting suchmovements.

The chief feature of the invention resides in the location of the leafpassage, stops and leaf connections at the center of the leaves.

The leaf can be of metal, alloy, plastic, or the like, as desired orrequired. When of sheet metal much lighter gauges may be utilized thanare required for use in conventional hinges.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of hinge leaves having a commonpintle connection for the resulting four wings.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the two leaves in a partially separatedrelation.

Fig. 3 is a similar View of the same in a further separated relation.

In the drawing there is illustrated a pair of hinge plates, onedesignated RH or right hand and the other designated LH or left hand.Since these plates are individually illustrated to a greater degree inFig. 3 reference will be had thereto.

The left hand plate includes two leaf portions in which lie parallel andoffset to each other being connected by the biased or inclined portionII which at opposite ends is notched out as at l2. The intermediateportion is slit as at l3 which between the roots of notches l2 hereinforms three connectors between the leaves.

The central connector I4 is formed into a substantially semi-cylindricalbearing I5 and the other connectors l6 are similarly formed except thatthese bearings I1 therein are oppositely directed to the bearing l 5 andthus a pintle is retainable by the semi-cylindrical bearings of the lefthand plate.

The right hand plate includes two leaf portions 29 which lie paralleland offset to each other being connected by the biased portion 2| whichis cut out at 22 to form a central opening to seat the aligned pintlereceiving bearing portions [5 and I! of the left hand leaf. The biasedportion 2! at each end includes two oppositely directed substantiallysemi-cylindrical elongated portions 23 and 2 3, so that the right handplate is capable of fully retaining a pintle by its semi-cylindricalbearings.

Each leaf 26 includes a triangular extension 25 of opening 22 and sameterminates in a semicircular end 26.

In mounting the two plates together the one plate (LH) is passed halfthrough the opening 22 and elongations 2526 as illustrated in Fig. 3.This initial entrance is effected by notch I2 properly associating withopening 26 so the remote diagonally opposite corner of leaf ll] can passthrough the opposite opening 26.

When the two plates are approximately transverse to each other, theplate (LH) can be turned so that notches l2 follow the hypothenuse ofopenings 25 in plate RH until the several bearings are aligned in saidplates. Note this turning can only be in one direction relatively.

Then a pintle 3i] with head 3| is passed through the aligned bearing anda friction locking, double tongue washer 32 with pintle gripping tongue33 is applied to hold the same in place.

To disassemble the hinge unit the washer and pintle are successivelyremoved, the plate LH is turned approximately following the aforesaidhypothenuse of opening 25 and then that plate is tilted in that plane topass the plate from the right hand plate.

These hinges may be suitably connected to other elements by any suitablemeans. They may be pivotally connected to other hinge elements or otheridentical units. Herein opposite leaves of the same plate at oppositeedges have curled extensions E forming pintle bearings, three to eachside edge, one edge being devoid thereof at one end and the oppositeedge being devoid thereof at the diagonally opposite end as illustrated.These extensions of adjacent units, when aligned, receive pintlessimilar to 30, etc. and thus an articulated series of units may beassembled together.

The plates are shown in Fig. 1 as having their biased portions crossedand nearly abutting thus forming a stop. Fig. 1 represents the partsinextended position. When the two rearward laaves, Fig. 1, are caused tomove towards each other as shown by the arrows the forward leaves havesimilar movement and this movement may be continued until the leavescontact each other, if desired. This is the fully collapsed position.Plate of this character can be stamped from sheet material such as metalplate, etc. as initially described herein.

' While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawing and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination a pair of plates each includ ing oppositely directedwing or leaf portions, one of said plates, between the leaves atopposite edges having inwardly directed notches, and pivot bearingportions therebetween, and all in longitudinal alignment, the other ofsaid plates having a central elongated opening between the leavesthereof for accommodation of the pivot bearing portions of the firstmentioned plate, and

lateral extensions of said opening, in each of the wing 0r leaf portionsof the second mentioned plate to facilitate plate association into anddisassociation from intersecting position, the second mentioned plate inlongitudinalalignment with bearing portions of the first mentionedplate, and V lateral extensions of said opening, in each of the wing orleaf portions of the second mentioned plate to facilitate plateassociation into and disassociation from intersecting position, thesecond mentioned plate in longitudinal alignment with v the opening andbetween the leaves thereof-including pivot bearing'portions, alignablewith the same of the first mentioned plate, and pintle means associatedwith said pivot bearing portions, each plate between the leaves thereofincluding a biasedportion including the said pivot bearingportions.

WILLIAM A. S-HEA'RER.

